Problem: Which contains the greatest number of moles of oxygen atoms: 1 mol of ethanol (C2H5OH), 1 mol of formic acid (HCO2H), or 1 mol of water (H2O)? Explain why.

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FREE Expert Solution

For molecules, the number of moles of atoms (in the molecule) is relative on the number of moles of the molecule. For example, 1 mole of carbon monoxide (CO) contains 1 mole of carbon and 1 mole of oxygen

Now for 1 mol of ethanol, we have a single O in the molecule so we also have 1 mole of oxygen (1 mol C2H5OH = 1 mol O)

Problem Details

Which contains the greatest number of moles of oxygen atoms: 1 mol of ethanol (C2H5OH), 1 mol of formic acid (HCO2H), or 1 mol of water (H2O)? Explain why.